CONTENTS
“SUNNY SIDE UP” 5
by Katia Hadidian
“HAJJAJ IN CLOSE-UP” 6
by Martin Barnes
MY ROCK STARS 13
“A CASE OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: 14
A CURATOR’S PERSPECTIVE”
by Linda Komaroff
’ KESH ANGELS 46
DAKKA MARRAKESH 69
“STUDIO & STREET: 70
HASSAN HAJJAJ’S STYLE MASH-UP”
by Jessie Wender & Mitra Abbaspour
SALON HASSAN 95
BIOGRAPHY 110
TO MY MUM AND DAD
This book represents a journey in which so many things happened, and I have to say a massive thank-you to all my family
and friends for their support along the way. So, I would like to dedicate this book to everyone who believes in what I do and
gives me their time.

CONTENTS
“SUNNY SIDE UP” 5
by Katia Hadidian
“HAJJAJ IN CLOSE-UP” 6
by Martin Barnes
MY ROCK STARS 13
“A CASE OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: 14
A CURATOR’S PERSPECTIVE”
by Linda Komaroff
’ KESH ANGELS 46
DAKKA MARRAKESH 69
“STUDIO & STREET: 70
HASSAN HAJJAJ’S STYLE MASH-UP”
by Jessie Wender & Mitra Abbaspour
SALON HASSAN 95
BIOGRAPHY 110
TO MY MUM AND DAD
This book represents a journey in which so many things happened, and I have to say a massive thank-you to all my family
and friends for their support along the way. So, I would like to dedicate this book to everyone who believes in what I do and
gives me their time.

highly sought-after artist-photographer. The memory of his arrival
at Issa’s office with a battered suitcase held together with elastic

His growing popularity in the West helped turn attention on

luggage straps and bursting with hundreds of contact sheets

Morocco as a font of innovative artistic talent, while the Bamako

(these were his pre-digital days), still makes them laugh.

Biennale (Rencontres de Bamako), founded in 1994 by Mali’s
Ministry of Culture and the Institut Français, and the Marrakesh

Hajjaj agrees that he’s come a long way, reflecting on his family’s

Biennale, founded in 2004 by hotelier and art patron Vanessa

shock at arriving in 1970s England to join his father, who had

Branson and entrepreneur Abel Damoussi, launched the region’s

emigrated earlier in search of work. “I found London difficult,

art scene on to the international radar. To Hajjaj, Morocco’s

strange and sad,” he recalls. “It was a really tough time. I just

participation makes perfect sense: “We’re in touch with Africa

couldn’t understand it at all. My family came from a small fishing

and we’re in touch with Europe. We’re a bit of everything.”

town in Morocco called Larache and we couldn’t read, write or

The same could be said of Hajjaj himself, with his distinctive

speak English. We had such a sense of freedom growing up in

dreadlocks, Capoeira-trained bearing, Camden Town street smarts,

Morocco, on the beach, in a totally different culture.” His response

and warm, cheeky, cheerful and hospitable nature that comes

has been to celebrate being what he calls noss noss (half-half),

straight from the heart of his cultural heritage.

by creating a playful, technicoloured universe in which he
masterminds every element, from what his subjects wear to how

Another admirable aspect of his career is that he has achieved

they pose and which props surround them, from their motorbikes

what he set out to do. In our first publication about him in 2008,

to their chairs, tables, and teapots.

Dakka Marrakesh, Juliet Cestar interviewed him about his hopes

4

and ambitions for the future. His list included photographing

At this juncture of his career, we thought it timely to explore the

traditional Moroccan musicians (“I want to document them to

many aspects of his work in the detail they deserve, and thank all

pass it along to the younger generation – to give something back

our contributors for taking part and expressing so knowledgeably

to my culture, not just take things away”, see pages 44-45);

and eloquently what first attracted them to Hassan’s world.

The artist’s Motobécane at the ’Kesh Angels show, Rose Issa Projects, London 2010

5

MY
ROCKSTARS
12

13

MY
ROCKSTARS
12

13

20

Hindi Odalisque (detail), metallic Lambda print, 90 x 175 cm, 2013

21

20

Hindi Odalisque (detail), metallic Lambda print, 90 x 175 cm, 2013

21

“In a way, Hassan’s
photography is a visual
equivalent to my
music. The common
thread is the mix of
the unconventional
with the traditional.
We both manage to bridge
a gap between cultures.
His photography is similar
to what I am trying
to create: work that
is undefinable”
Marques Toliver

24

Marques Toliver (detail), metallic Lambda print, 2010-2014

25

“In a way, Hassan’s
photography is a visual
equivalent to my
music. The common
thread is the mix of
the unconventional
with the traditional.
We both manage to bridge
a gap between cultures.
His photography is similar
to what I am trying
to create: work that
is undefinable”
Marques Toliver

“I really admire artists who
express themselves in an
academic way and make
references to the past and
to other subjects. My work is
more of an expression of what
I feel – I don’t know how to be
academic. So, I hope my work
talks for me – and I want it to
appeal to everyone, whether
they’re a cleaner or an art critic”
Hassan Hajjaj

“I really admire artists who
express themselves in an
academic way and make
references to the past and
to other subjects. My work is
more of an expression of what
I feel – I don’t know how to be
academic. So, I hope my work
talks for me – and I want it to
appeal to everyone, whether
they’re a cleaner or an art critic”
Hassan Hajjaj

From left: Tagia Boy in Blue; Hayat in Veil in Pink; Y Bandana Veil; and Just Do It in Blue,
all digital C-Type prints with hand-painted backgrounds in wood and tyre frames, 50 x 40 cm, 2000

75

74

From left: Tagia Boy in Blue; Hayat in Veil in Pink; Y Bandana Veil; and Just Do It in Blue,
all digital C-Type prints with hand-painted backgrounds in wood and tyre frames, 50 x 40 cm, 2000

75

“People do comment about
how some of the women in
my photographs are veiled,
but look at how modern and
defiant they are! They’re blending
tradition with pop fashion and
I find them really strong and
completely beautiful”
Hassan Hajjaj

“People do comment about
how some of the women in
my photographs are veiled,
but look at how modern and
defiant they are! They’re blending
tradition with pop fashion and
I find them really strong and
completely beautiful”
Hassan Hajjaj